Billy Graham, byname of William Franklin Graham, Jr., (born November 7, 1918, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.—died February 21, 2018, Montreat, North Carolina), American evangelist whose large-scale preaching missions, known as crusades, and friendship with numerous U.S. presidents brought him to international prominence. In 1936 he left his father’s dairy farm to attend Bob Jones College (now Bob Jones University), then located in Cleveland, Tennessee, but stayed for only a semester because of the extreme fundamentalism of the institution. He transferred to Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College), near Tampa, graduated in 1940, and was ordained a minister by the Southern Baptist Convention. Convinced that his education was deficient, however, Graham enrolled at Wheaton College in Illinois. While at Wheaton, he met and married (1943) Ruth Bell, daughter of L. Nelson Bell, a missionary to China.
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Who Are Evangelicals? There are about 78 million evangelicals in America, according to Pew Research Center’s massive new survey of the religious landscape released on Wednesday. Most are white, Republican, and say religion is very important to them. But not all. The study—considered the most comprehensive look at religion in the United States, with more than 36,000 people filling out a 116-question survey in all 50 states—shows significant evangelical variety. Evangelicals are diverse: racially, politically, economically, and even in terms of religious practice. (Christian Post 2/26/25) READ MORE>>>>> Billy Graham's granddaughter pens op-ed endorsing Kamala Harris, calls Trump 'megalomaniac' The granddaughter of the late Rev. Billy Graham recently penned an op-ed in Newsweek endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and accusing former President Donald Trump of being "a megalomaniac." "As someone who enjoyed the privilege of growing up around the revered minister Dr. Billy Graham — or as we grandchildren knew him, 'Daddy Bill' — I recognize very little in former President Donald Trump of the Christian faith that has inspired my life," wrote Jerushah Duford, whose mother, Virginia "Gigi" Graham Tchividjian, is Graham's eldest daughter. Duford's op-ed drew kudos on X from figures such as Kellyanne Conway's husband, George Conway, who is the co-founder of The Lincoln Project. John Weaver, who also founded the anti-Trump organization, stepped down in 2021 after 21 men accused him of online sexual harassment, according to The New York Times. (Christianity Today 10/28/24) READ MORE>>>>> Evangelicals for Harris Asked to ‘Cease and Desist’ Billy Graham Ad The ad begins with a clip of Billy Graham, wearing glasses, a gray suit and tie, leaning in toward a pulpit. “But you must realize that in the last days, the times will be full of danger,” Graham declares. “Men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money.” Suddenly, a clip of former president Donald Trump is spliced in. Standing before a row of American flags at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Trump says: “My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.” (Christianity Today 10/15/24) READ MORE>>>>> This Actor’s Chance Encounter With Billy Graham Gave Him ‘Goosebumps’ Actor Kevin Sorbo is recalling his faith journey — including a chance encounter with the Rev. Billy Graham. “In later teenage years in my 20s, I did a lot of stupid things,” the HERCULES actor told CBN News. “But I never went away from my faith. I never had that crisis where I didn’t believe in God or believe in Jesus.” He explained that his parents were “very devoted Christians” and passed that dedication to faith along to him. Another factor that impacted his faith? A chance meeting with Billy Graham. (Movie Guide 10/8/24) READ MORE>>>>> Anti-Trump ad featuring Billy Graham is also an indictment of his son, Franklin | Opinion Franklin Graham doesn’t like the way a political group advocating for Vice President Kamala Harris is using his iconic father’s image and words. The Rev. Billy Graham I grew up with wouldn’t like the way his son has politicized the faith to which the senior Graham dedicated his life. No matter what happens at the ballot box this November, the damage men like Franklin Graham have done to the image of Christianity will be long lasting and not easily repaired. The irony is that the political ads that have so upset the junior Graham makes clear why. (Charlotte Observer 10/5/24) READ MORE>>>>> IRS urged to revoke tax-exempt status of Billy Graham org over ‘electioneering’ A prominent secular legal organization has asked the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association over alleged violation of election law. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state, sent a request to the IRS last week regarding a special edition of the BGEA's Decision magazine that compares the two major party presidential candidates. According to FFRF, the magazine labels Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris an advocate of "socialism" while Republican former President Donald Trump is labeled a supporter of "freedom." (Christian Post 9/25/24) READ MORE>>>>> Evangelicals for Harris spends over $1M on anti-Trump ad campaign featuring Billy Graham The political action committee Evangelicals for Harris rolled out an over $1 million ad campaign Thursday that features footage of the late evangelist Billy Graham and suggests former President Donald Trump exhibits the character of evil men in the last days. The ad, which will play out over the next three weeks in battleground states, features a sermon Graham preached from 2 Timothy 3:1-5, in which Paul describes the terrible nature of the last days and warns "men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money, full of big words." The ad interspersed brief clips of Trump making comments that the PAC implied are indications he possesses the sinful characteristics of the End Times evildoers Paul was describing. (Christian Post 12/22/24) READ MORE>>>>> US Capitol unveils statue honoring Billy Graham: 'One of our dearest treasures' Faith leaders and politicians on both sides of the aisle gathered to honor the late evangelist Billy Graham as a sculpture paying tribute to the North Carolina native was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Thursday. Hundreds attended a private ceremony revealing the 7-foot statue, which will be part of the National Statuary Hall Collection and installed in the Crypt one level below the Rotunda, where public tours of the U.S. Capitol begin. The event featured speeches from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Graham's son, Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse. Grammy-winning Christian musician Michael W. Smith performed the son "I Surrender All." (Christian Post 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>> Billy Graham dies at 99; 'America's Pastor' gave first public speech in Monroe as a teen The Reverend William Franklin “Billy” Graham Jr., a Charlotte native nicknamed “America’s Pastor,” died at home in Montreat, N.C., at the age of 99 on Wednesday from natural causes, according to a family spokesman. Graham emerged into the world’s most famous Christian evangelist and he got his start as a public speaker at the age of 17 at the jailhouse in Monroe, N.C. Graham accompanied evangelist Jimmie Johnson of Alabama to a service at the Monroe jail in 1936 according to Graham’s official biographer, John Pollock, who shared the story with the Enquirer-Journal in 1974. While preaching in the jail, Johnson turned to Graham and said “Here’s a young fellow who can tell you what it is like to be converted,” according to the E-J report. Graham had been converted to Christianity a year earlier. “Three or four sentences were all I could manage,” Graham would later tell his biographer about the experience. (Monroe Enquirer Journal 2/18/18) READ MORE>>>>> How the Strident Support of Evangelical Christians to Israel Undermines the Palestine Cause Building on the work of influential American preachers like D.L. Moody in the 19th century, a number of high-profile American evangelists and Bible teachers of the 20th century like Billy Graham, G. Douglas Young, John Hagee, Arnold T. Olson, Jerry Falwell Sr., Pat Robertson, Hal Lindsey, among others further helped in its spread. Some of them even served as advisors and counsellors to US presidents. For instance, Falwell, Robertson, and Lindsey were part of many of the official programmes held at the White House during Ronald Reagn’s era. Even Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the staunchest supporters of Israel and Christian Zionism. Of all, Billy Graham – who was a towering figure in the American evangelical firmament and whose ‘crusades’ were attended by hundreds of thousands around the world, including in India – was that “proverbial sun around which much of postwar evangelical-Jewish relations orbited”. As someone who is said to have known every US president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, Graham used his clout to garner support for the Zionist cause. Many believe that it was Graham who played a major role in the background persuading President Nixon to airlift the largest amount of aid in US history to send enormous shipments of tanks, jet fighters, and ammunition to help Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In the initial days of that war, it seemed the young Jewish state would not survive the double-front war launched by Egypt and Syria but for the support from the US. (Vikram Mukka/The Wire) Read More>>>>> 
Our world today is looking for men and women with integrity, for communicators who back up their ministry with their lives. Our preaching emerges out of what we are. We are called to be holy people separated from the moral evils of the world. – Billy Graham 
"The strength for our conquering and victory is drawn continually from Christ. The Bible does not teach that sin is completely eradicated from the Christian in this life, but it does teach that sin shall no longer reign over you. The Strength and power of sin have been broken. The Christian now has the resources available to live above and beyond this world. It is like the little girl who said that when the devil came knocking with a temptation, she just sent Jesus to the door."
– Billy Graham Nov 8, 2022: Baptist Press: New Billy Graham archive opens on the late evangelist’s birthday
On Monday, (Nov. 7), the birthday of the late evangelist, a new archive opened nearly 800 miles south of Wheaton College, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Graham’s birthplace. The 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art research center brings together videos, cassettes, films, newspaper clippings, sermon notes, correspondence and a lifetime of memorabilia from Graham’s career, which began with a sermon at a Florida Baptist church in 1937. April 11, 2022: Texas Monthly: How a Texas Monthly Writer Wound Up Writing Billy Graham’s Biography
William Martin’s journey from Rice professor to Billy Graham expert began with a simple assignment, one that would alter his life for decades to come. Oct 11, 2021: American Reporter: Impacting the World through Books: Introducing Byron Williamson
In 1988 Worthy Publishing was sold to Word, Inc., a CapCities/ABC company, now part of The Walt Disney Company. Currently located in Las Colinas, Texas, Williamson moved into the leadership of Word, managing the growth of Word Books from $19 million to $72 million by fiscal 1999. First, he recruited a team that successfully published such authors as Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Charles R. Swindoll, Nolan Ryan, Os Guinness, Dr. James C. Dobson, Charles Colson, and the MacArthur Study Bible, as well as completing the Communicator’s Commentary series and the Word Biblical Commentaries series. Progressing further, in December 1992, Word was acquired by Thomas Nelson, located in Nashville, TN. Soon after that, Nelson was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and Williamson was named President of Thomas Nelson and Word. The new management team drove sales from $128 to $173 million by fiscal 1999. Then, step by step, he converted WordKids into Tommy Nelson children’s books and recruited Jack Countryman to launch J. Countryman gift books. Sept 24, 2021: Missions Box: A Personal Side of Dr. Billy Graham You Haven’t Heard
Billy Graham asked his close friend of 10 years, Don Wilton, to be his pastor and what followed was a privileged 25 years of sitting at the feet of one of God’s pillar servants—nurturing a friendship and seeing a personal side of Billy that most people have never known, until now. “My relationship with Mr. Graham is close to my heart and humbling for me. It was a very unlikely friendship and how it happened is only by the grace of God,” shares Don July 6, 2021: Edge Media Network: Franklin Graham Ends Pride Month with Homophobic Message
When Graham's father, evangelist Billy Graham died in 2018, he was hailed by ex-President George Bush as "America's preacher." "(Billy) Graham's accomplishments are, without doubt, legion. The widely cited estimate that he preached to some 215 million people is likely in the ballpark," wrote Politico at the time of his death in 2018. Sept 6, 2020: Henderson Lightning: Cawthorn, Davis swap charges on character, white nationalism, military service
Davis responded: “Well, I spent 25-years in uniform defending your right to say what you want and to practice your religion the way that you want. To me it is not very Christian to attack another Christian’s faith. I am not a fan of Franklin Graham. … I was a big believer in Billy Graham, I’ve got his books at home at my house and I have read them and I respect him greatly. … Franklin Graham has made himself one of the richest 1%, taking $1 million a year off the top from money people have given to do the lord’s work. That’s not the bible I grew up with. So, no, I am no fan of Franklin Graham, but I am a firm believer in religious conviction and religious faith and I defend the right of everyone to practice the way that they believe. Feb 21, 2018: Albuquerque Journal: Duke City remembers ‘commanding presence’ of Billy Graham
Kay Law met Graham only once, but she, too, remembers his eyes. Law is a California native and lives in that state now. She was an Albuquerque resident in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and her son Brian Nixon is an assistant pastor at Calvary Albuquerque church, where he oversees publishing and education. Feb 21, 2018: Kevin Eckstrom: Religion News Service: ‘Just As I Am’ was Billy Graham’s signature hymn
For evangelist Billy Graham, it all came down to the “invitation,” the climactic point at the end of his crusades when he invited people to leave their seats and “make a decision for Christ.” Billy Graham with Johnny and June Cash at the Asheville, N.C., Billy Graham Crusade (date unknown). RNS file photo And it wouldn’t be a Billy Graham invitation without “Just As I Am,” the slow-moving, soul-moving hymn that accompanied millions down the aisle and became Graham’s signature anthem and title of his 1997 autobiograph Dec 26, 2015: Christianity Today: Billy Graham reminds Christians: Don't forget Jesus Christ after Christmas
However, American evangelist Billy Graham believes it is very important to honour the Saviour not just once a year but every day throughout the year. June 9, 2015: CNBC: Billy Graham churches dump Well Fargo over same-sex ad
Over the weekend, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's president and CEO, Franklin Graham (Billy's son), posted on Facebook that the organization was moving its accounts from Wells Fargo to another bank because its ad featured members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. He called on Christians to boycott the corporation as well as to stop patronizing other companies that supported gay rights through marketing. Apr 3, 2015: WRAL: Lawmakers say Graham should be in Statuary Hall
North Carolina lawmakers want to make the Rev. Billy Graham a permanent fixture in Congress. Jan 31, 2015: Billy Graham: Park City Daily News: Every culture has some kind of religion
Oct 19, 2014: Pastoral Meanderings: Billy Graham -- Secret Anglican???
Graham told one reporter that if he was starting over again he would be ‘an evangelical Anglican’ Oct 10, 2014: Gospel Coalition: A Historian’s New Interpretive Study of Billy Graham and American Culture
I just received my copy of America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation (Belknap/Harvard, 2014) by Grant Wacker, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Christian History at Duke University Divinity School. Sept 1, 2014: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: A Poem from U2′s Bono to Billy Graham
As Irish rock band U2 makes headlines with its groundbreaking album release, visitors to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, have the chance to check out a lesser-known piece of history from the band’s famous frontman, Bono. |
October 23, 2024: Jerushah Duford wrote in a Newsweek op-ed: “Trump's words and actions are fundamentally incompatible with evangelical principles," Duford also wrote in Newsweek. "Contrary to some who claim he has been anointed by God to lead; Trump cannot return the U.S. to faithfulness. Sadly, by embracing such a megalomaniac, Christians have been turning away those who are curious about the Lord. We lose credibility when we say God is love, but then rally, and sometimes even riot, in support of an individual whose entire worldview centers on himself,"
October 15, 2024 October 8, 2024: Carole Ledbetter, guest columnist, wrote: I remember attending “crusades” in suburban areas and reading about Billy’s preaching in many parts of the United States and countries overseas. Billy Graham’s messages were on Biblical topics, quoting scripture passages, explaining them and closing with what was called an “invitation” – a call for members of the audience who wanted to publicly express their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to “give their hearts” to Him, to “follow” Him – indicating obedience to Biblical standards and practices for the rest of their lives. Hundreds of people of all ages made their way to the front of the meeting place, indicating their desire to “receive Jesus” and live in obedience to Him for the rest of their lives. In small towns and major cities in the United States, as well as some cities in Europe, Billy traveled to preach the message and invite seekers to respond.
November 20, 2024: Nathan A. Finn (Gospel Coalition) wrote: Seventy-five years ago this fall, a 30-year-old evangelist named Billy Graham (1918–2018) began what was supposed to be a three-week evangelistic crusade in Los Angeles. When Graham finally left town, the campaign had been extended to 57 days and more than 350,000 people had attended the services. The L.A. Crusade had become national news, and the handsome, fiery evangelist with the Southern drawl was a celebrity. For the next seven decades, Graham was the most famous Christian in America and likely the best-known evangelical in the world. April 17, 2023: George Verwer, evangelist and founder of OM International, dies at age 84. A native of New Jersey, Verwer was born in 1938 and became a born-again Christian in his teenage years after attending a rally led by the Rev. Billy Graham in New York City. Aug 16, 2014: Nehanda Radio reported: Top 10 richest pastors in the world. 8. Billy Graham: American evangelical Christian evangelist, William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr., has a net worth of $25 million. The Southern Baptist evangelist rose to celebrity status as his sermons started getting broadcast on radio and television. Graham was born on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina in 1918, he has conducted many evangelistic crusades since 1948. He is now a world renowned televangelist raking in millions of dollars. November 7, 2013: Daily Kos wrote: Why Is Christianity Today Ignoring Billy Graham’s End-Times Prophecy? “For those that weren’t aware, Billy Graham is prophesying the end-times and the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is the kind of crazy, magical thinking that Frank Schaeffer so masterfully portrays in his new novel, And God Said, Billy! and his memoir Crazy For God.” February 21, 2018: Billy Graham died in Montreat, North Carolina. May 20, 2014: Tullian Tchividjian, author and senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida—and the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham—on Tuesday announced his departure from his contributor role at the Gospel Coalition. Nov 7, 2013
Billy Graham delivers a powerful gospel message to America about the Cross. This is truly a beautiful gospel message and timely for the end time harvest prior to the Tribulation. I never get tired of hearing Christ's sacrifice for all mankind.
April 25, 2010: President Barack Obama visited Graham at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, where they "had a private prayer" 
May 31, 2007: The $27 million Billy Graham Library was officially dedicated in Charlotte. Former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton appeared to celebrate with Graham. March 11–12, 2006: Graham held the "Festival of Hope" with his son, Franklin Graham in New Orleans, which was recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
July 9, 2006: Graham spoke at the Metro Maryland Franklin Graham Festival, held in Baltimore, Maryland, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. June 24–26, 2005: Graham began what he said would be his last North American crusade: three days at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the borough of Queens, New York City. September 14, 2001: Three days after the World Trade Center attacks, Graham was invited to lead a service at Washington National Cathedral; the service was attended by President George W. Bush and past and present leaders. “God offers all of us a gift tonight. It’s something you can’t work for. It’s something you can’t buy. ... It’s spiritual water. It’s forgiveness of all your sins because of the cross and the resurrection,” Billy Graham said at a 1993 Crusade in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
September 22, 1991: Graham held his largest event in North America on the Great Lawn of Manhattan's Central Park. City officials estimated that more than 250,000 were in attendance. October 15, 1989: Graham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the only person functioning as a minister who received a star in that capacity. 
December 22, 1975
September 1974
December 16, 1963: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was impressed by the way Graham had praised the work of his great-grandfather, George Washington Baines, invited Graham to the White House to receive spiritual counseling. September 13-21, 1947: The first Billy Graham Crusade, held at the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was attended by 6,000 people. Jan 2, 1944: Graham Launched a new radio program still called Songs in the Night. Graham recruited the bass-baritone George Beverly Shea as his director of radio ministry. |
1st Evangelistic Meeting 1938